Kenya after the Rains (mostly): Meru, Ol Pejeta, Olare Motorogi

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@TonyQ

 

It's time to retire my camera and lens — you've taken the photo series I've sought.

The hippo and early morning view are fantastic, but the leopard cub series is the nothing less than stellar!

The technical skill involved in capturing the charm of the agile young leopard I highly respect...and hugely admire.

When I joined Safaritalk, I initially read one of your trip reports and thought of you as “the Leopard Guy”.

These lovely images powerfully reconfirm my original impression.

Thank you so much for sharing them.

Tom K.

[TonyQ]

As another car arrived, the sun broke through – the guides communicated and the vehicles moved back a bit

 

The light was beautiful now – we had forgotten about the fog!

Olive goes to scratch a tree and is joined by her cub

Being a cub

 

A couple more vehicles arrived – still well behaved – Charles checked with us and moved off – but keeping an eye in the direction of the leopards. The other vehicle that was there at the start also left.

 

Warning: As it our last full day on safari I am bending/breaking some of my self-imposed rules. If you don’t like leopards look away now!

 

After a few minutes Charles said “they’re moving” – and anticipated where the leopards were going. He positioned the car and they came walking towards us.

They seemed completely unconcerned about vehicles

The walked past the cars very closely, and eventually headed off into undergrowth. We decided to let them go – it had been a wonderful start to the day.

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@TonyQ

 

How will I close my gaping jaw?

TERRIFIC series !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom K.

[TonyQ]

We saw an African White-backed Vulture in a tree – and then Charles got a message from one of his fellow guides. We drove off in response to that message

 

Olive and the youngster were sitting on a mound, checking out their surroundings.

 

The sun burst through light cloud to light them beautifully.

 

[TonyQ]

After about 25 minutes they headed off

 

– again unconcerned by vehicles

Seeking shade

 

As they headed off again, Charles again worked out where they were headed and positioned us well

 

Olive climbs a tree

Cub decides to follow!

 

Olive eventually settles on a branch. She looks to have a pretty full stomach and she settles to relax.

 

And finally we leave them just after 9.00 – so most of the last two hours spent in their company. It was a real treat to see these beautiful animals so well – especially after our thoughts during the early morning fog. Again we were impressed with Charles throughout this sighting.

 

It seemed like a natural time for breakfast!

(I hope you will forgive the indulgence of so many pictures of the two leopards)

[xelas]

@@TonyQ

 

Seeing a leopard by my own eyes was #1; seeing it through your lens is #2 on my "Could I have a view of a leopard, please" list!

Now I am much less frustrated that there were no leopard sightings in KTP; it would be hard to compete with this series!

As Tom also myself I am now off ... to find my lower jaw bone lying somewhere on the floor .

[Peter Connan]

@@TonyQ, where will you find enough wall space to hang all these magnificent leopard photos?

 

Absolutely magnificent!

[dlo]

@@TonyQ

 

Just want to echo what has already been said, a fantastic set of photos of some gorgeous leopards.

[amybatt]

I second what @@Tom Kellie said but also really appreciate how you managed to shoot with the grass too. Damn, what a great series that was. Would be hard to top that.

[michael-ibk]

What a fantastic Leopard sighting - wonderful, and stunning pics!

[mapumbo]

Fantastic TonyQ, Those leopard views and photos are as good as they get. Mama Ndege says to tell you that you should be a National Geographic photographer.

[Kitsafari]

oh i'm so envious of all those bat eared fox pictures. they are gorgeous, and so were your photos, of course!

 

stunning series of the leopards. how i loved that one with the cub's paw on olive's paw on the tree trunk.

 

thanks for taking time to share such lovely pics. i just told my OH that i feel like returning to OMC to see those foxes.....

[Big_Dog]

What fantastic leopard shots! The ones of the cub in the tree in particular are my faves. They juust top the ones of it in the golden light.

[PT123]

@@TonyQ

 

Last day was leopard (x2) day - what a great way to finish off your stay!

[pomkiwi]

@@TonyQ Enjoyed the lion shots - I always feel a surge of excitement when they all look in the same direction and move as if one. The leopard shots are superb.

[Alexander33]

If we don't like leopards....? Surely you jest. Thank you for breaking your self-imposed rule. What a wonderful sighting!

[TonyQ]

@@Tom Kellie

Thank you for your kind words - but you know that we enjoy your photos!

@@xelas

Thank you

@@Peter Connan

Thank you

@@dlo

Thank you

@@mapumbo

Thanks to you and to Mama Ndege for your kind words

@@Kitsafari

Thank you - the Bat-eared Foxes were a real highlight for us - lovely animals. Just make sure your guide knows that you are interested in them! I like the photo of the cub and Olive's paw together so I pleased you liked it also.

@@Big_Dog

Thank you - the cub in the tree was fun to watch!

@@PT123

Thank you

@@pomkiwi

It is exciting to see the lions behave like that

@@Alexander33

Thank you for your kind comments

Edited March 28, 2016 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

OMC continued

Charles Wandero

We have mentioned that we were very impressed with him as our guide. A softly spoken man, he obviously understands the behaviour of the animals very well, knows the area well and understands photography – he takes photos himself and has many fine shots on the Kicheche gallery. He is working towards his Gold Level qualification, hopefully very soon. As our own @@armchair bushman has explained, this would be a major achievement. We really enjoyed our time with him.

 

After breakfast we went to look at a nearby herd of buffalo

 

We then headed up towards higher land where Charles said there would be more short grass, and probably plains game. On the way we passed the Richard Branson owned camp (the tents looked bigger than our house ).

 

Also on the way

Vervet Monkey with baby

Coke’s Hartebeest

 

We were also delighted to see some more Bat-eared Foxes

 

Though they soon headed off into the long undergrowth

[TonyQ]

It was good to see a variety of plains game together

And Warthog with little baby

 

As we crossed a river we saw

Three-banded Plover

And a bit further up, a group of Hippo

Zebra- mother and foal affection

Two Topi check each other out while baby stands by

 

 

Kori Bustard

Part of a herd of buffalo.

 

We also saw a couple of distant Wilderbeest – the only ones we saw in OMC (we did see some in Naboisho on the way in and will see some on the way out)

 

We then reached the edge of the plateau, looking down of the Mara area. The track on the right was very steep, but had great views as we headed back towards camp for lunch and a brief rest.

[TonyQ]

As the afternoon drive started we saw

Temminck’s Courser

Steppe Eagle (I think)

Crowned Plover

African White-backed Vulture

We headed towards them. They were in bush, with the remains of a leopard kill

 

Some Black-backed Jackals were nearby, (as was a spotted hyena).

 

Then we saw a lion heading towards the free meal – Impala watching alertly

Impala

[TonyQ]

There were still some of the vultures around with their heads covered in blood

 

As we moved on

Topi herd

 

There were a lot of Topi here –as they walk they have a curious head movement. I don’t know if this is in response to flies or is just what they do. I have put in a short video clip to show it

Topi walking (video clip 43sec)

 

We sat for a while watching giraffe approaching a stream, drinking and moving on

 

 

White-faced Whistling Duck

(with another bird I should identify for when I start “My Big Year”!)

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@TonyQ

 

The consistent sharpness, clarity and lovely bokeh of your Kenya safari photographs bowls me over!

The exceptional quality of the sightings which Charles arranged for you and @@Thursday's Child is more than matched by the fine, fine, fine images.

Having been in the same conservancy mere weeks after you, the subjects are familiar, yet your photography brings out aspects which I'd overlooked.

From the most selfish of motives — I look forward to your next trip report — I hope that you and @@Thursday's Child will be out on safari soon!

There's a group of Safaritalk members who I wish might be out on safari at their earliest convenience, and that certainly includes you!

Such lovely images — thank you for preparing and posting them!

Tom K.

[TonyQ]

They sky was beginning to darken, but there was still bright sunshine as we headed to a sundowner spot. The contrast was spectacular.

 

We went to the tree to look more closely at the birds

Black-chested Snake Eagles

We could see rain approaching –and a rainbow

 

Final Sundowner

It started raining on me as I took that last picture – we hurried to close the canvas roof and one of the sides – but kept one open that was facing the sunset.

 

The rain became really heavy, but still had bright sunshine coming through it.

Herd of Topi in the rain

Topi, tree, rain and sunset

The sun got lower, the rain heavier

 

 

The fairly short drive back to camp was exciting for us and difficult for Charles. Heavy rain, thunder, lightning, slippery tracks, getting dark.

We arrived safely and could reflect on an excellent final full day. Only one more drive to go…..

[Tom Kellie]

~ @@TonyQ

 

The final image posted directly above, in heavy rain with a setting sun and a drenched topi, is as evocative of an image as I've seen.

Going back eons, how many times in how many locations have seen moments of such moody coloration?

You captured that and shared it here with us, so cozy in our homes or offices.

Thank you!

Tom K.

[xelas]

@@TonyQ

The changes of light in your last post was truly spectacular, and so are your photos! One-of-a-kind, IMHO!